Ani DiFranco

Out of Range could charm the speakers off of a stereo. DiFranco's percussive guitar style and lyrics provide a playful atmosphere that will make you crack a smile and put a swagger in your step. There are many colors at work and while the songs are at times confrontational, they are never without humor. Throughout the record there is a dynamic conversation between poetry and music.

Many of these ditties still compete for space on Ani's setlists and with good reason. The title track "Out of Range" explores the timeless rebellion against the status quo of gender roles handed down from generation to generation. Another contender is "Letter to a John," this sex worker classic gives AC/DC's Back In Black a run for its money at countless strip bars across the country. The heart provoking "You Had Time" features Ani's piano playing as well as the usual bevy of beauty created with her guitar and singing.

Out of Range is chalk full of guest musicians and a variety of sounds. Andy Stochansky's presence on drums and backing vocals is always a recipe for fun. The album is predominately acoustic guitar based but some other instruments strutting their stuff are horns, steel/bass/electric guitars, accordion, piano, and table setting percussion. The expansive arrangements include percussive call and response joy rides as well as the spare intimate guitarification* synonymous with the Folksinger.

Both eloquent and evocative, Out of Range is another gem in the big dish of sparkly things in the Ani DiFranco repertoire.

*guitarification: ferocious finger picking and sonic scintillation most commonly found on or about Ani DiFranco's guitar.